Puzzle game

ABSTRACT

A puzzle game such as a jigsaw has a number of interfitting pieces which combine to create a finished visual effect. A number of the pieces, e.g. in an area of a single color or pattern, can be positioned interchangeably as regards the visual effect. At least some of these interchangeable pieces carry markers enabling their disposition to be determined. For example, the markers may be metal spots whose layout can be determined by scanning using radiation. A particular use of such a puzzle game is in a competition or lottery based on chance, where a number of completed puzzles are submitted for comparison with a standard &#34;solution&#34; layout involving a specific arrangement of the interchangeable pieces.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to puzzle games.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Puzzles having a number of pieces, which have to be fitted together, arewell known. In particular most people are familiar with "jigsaw"puzzles, in which a large number of interlocking pieces can be fittedtogether to make a recognisable two-dimensional picture or pattern.Jigsaw puzzle pieces are usually of a number of different shapes, andthis together with the colour variation over a picture generally meansthat there is only one "correct" way to complete the puzzle, i.e.correct as to both picture and fitting of pieces. However certainspecial jigsaw puzzles are known in which, apart from those at theedges, the pieces are all the same shape so that only assessment of thepicture/pattern can be used in deciding where each piece is to fit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With this invention I aim to provide a new type of game of interfittingpieces, preferably of the nature of a jigsaw puzzle.

I have conceived the idea of making a game which is fitted together bythe purchaser and can also be used as a means for entering a draw,lottery or the like.

With this end in view, the invention provides a game which has aplurality of pieces which can be fitted together--preferably withinterlock--to form a finished visual picture or pattern. This may be acharacteristic shape, especially in the event that the construction isthree-dimensional. The shapes of the pieces and the visualpicture/pattern elements they carry, are however selected so that atleast certain of the pieces can be fitted into the assembly in a numberof different positions (orientation and/or location) and still providesuch a finished visual effect. This can be simply arranged e.g. byproviding those pieces with interfitting parts of the same shape, andsimilar display (picture/pattern) elements. Alternatively oradditionally, such pieces might be fittable with different orientationsinto any given location in the assembly.

A finished appearance will arise from a coherent combination of thedisplayed portion of the pieces, recognisable by a person using thepuzzle. For example, it might be a recognisable picture or coherentshape.

Specifically, I propose puzzle game apparatus comprising a plurality ofpieces, the pieces having display portions and means for interfittingwith adjacent said pieces to form an assembled puzzle structure, saidassembled puzzle structure having a finished visual scheme and saidfinished visual scheme being a coherent combination of the displayportions of the pieces;

at least a plurality of the pieces being changeable pieces, saidchangeable pieces being capable of taking more than one possibleposition in a said assembled puzzle structure whereby the apparatus hasa plurality of assembled conditions corresponding to said differentpossible positions of the changeable pieces and giving an assembledpuzzle structure having a said finished visual scheme, and

at least a plurality of the changeable pieces comprise respectivedistinctive markers in addition to their display portions, to indicatedistinctively the position of the respective changeable pieces in theassembled puzzle structure and thereby distinguish the assembledconditions from one another in terms of the positions of the markerstherein.

In addition to their visual display e.g. picture/pattern elements, atleast some of these "interchangeable" pieces carry the distinguishingmarkers so that various arrangements of the pieces which may beidentical as to the visual effect, e.g. picture/pattern, arenevertheless distinguishable with reference to these markers. Themarkers may take any of a number of forms e.g. codes, shapes, numbers,letters, projections etc. However it is preferred that they are notvisible, or at least visually insignificant by comparison with thedisplay portions elements of the pieces concerned, at least in theassembled puzzle structure. This could be achieved e.g. by concealingthem inside the pieces, or on any reverse thereof vis a vis the displayportion. Furthermore it is particularly preferred that the markers beautomatically machine-scannable as to their location and/or orientationin the assembly, most preferably so that their arrangement can becompared with some standard arrangement or solution.

In this way, a large number of such puzzles can be distributed, with theoffer to complete the puzzle and submit it as an entry in a competition,lottery or the like. Persons taking part generally complete the puzzleso as to form similar visual effects e.g. pictures, patterns or shapes,but with a great variety of different arrangements of the markers. Thesubmitted completed puzzles are then compared as to the arrangement ofmarkers, preferably by machine, with a standard arrangement or"solution" unknown to those taking part. The number of possiblecombinations of the markers corresponding to the same visual effect caneasily be made sufficiently large that the probability of achieving the"correct" arrangement might only be one in e.g. many thousands or evenmillions.

The preferred type of puzzle envisaged is a jigsaw-type puzzle, i.e.forming an essentially two-dimensional picture/pattern usinginterlocking pieces.

The preferred final visual effect is a picture or pattern which has atleast one substantial portion, (i.e. made up of a substantial number ofpieces), of the same tonal appearance or visual effect e.g. all of onecolour. The substantial number of pieces would generally be 10 or more,more preferably 20 or more or even 50 or more. Desirably a majorproportion, and preferably all, of the pieces in such a part of thepuzzle would comprise markers as described above.

The markers used are preferably susceptible to scanning using some formof radiation. For example, the marking may be achieved by forming one ormore portions of a piece with greater or lesser opacity or reflectivityto some selected radiation than other portions. The markers might beshaped thin opaque or reflective (e.g. metal) parts in a piece otherwisecomposed of card or board.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are now described by way of example, withreference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of an assembled jigsaw puzzle;

FIG. 2 shows enlarged a part thereof; and

FIG. 3 shows details of construction of a marked piece, and

FIG. 4 illustrates a scanning operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a completed jigsaw puzzle 1 which consists in the usual wayof a picture design printed on a sheet of paper superimposed on abacking of stiff cardboard, the whole being sub-divided intointerlocking pieces.

One feature of the design chosen is that it has large areas of the samecolour. In the embodiment shown, the central pig 2 may be uniformlypink, and if desired the sky 3 uniformly blue and the grass 4 uniformlygreen.

Another suitable picture would be of Santa Claus, with extensive redareas.

Furthermore, apart from those pieces at the edges which in theconventional way have one entirely straight edge, the pieces all haveone of two basic shapes. FIG. 2 shows in close up a portion 5 from thepig's back, marked in FIG. 1 by a broken line. FIG. 2 shows how all ofthe pieces 10, 11 have the same basic nature, namely a rectangularplaque with projecting lobes 12 at two opposite sides and correspondingcut-outs 13 at the centres of the other two sides. Because the piecesillustrated are rectangular and not square, they fall into two types; afirst type 10 in which the lobes 12 are on the long sides of therectangle and a second type 11 in which the lobes 12 are on the shortersides of the rectangle. It will be appreciated that the pieces may bebased on a square pattern so that they are all identical.

In the portion 5 illustrated, all of the pieces 10, 11 carry a topprinted paper sheet 15 (see FIG. 3) of a uniform pink colour. Thisapplies over the greater part of the pig's body, excepting of coursethose parts with special picture features such as snout, ears etc. Itwill easily be understood that these pink pieces, which are of only twotypes, can be combined in an enormous number of different ways to createan identical visual impression, namely a uniform pink expanse. Thisuniform pink expanse might consist for example of between 10 and 100pieces; and the greater the number the greater the number of possiblearrangements giving the visually similar result.

Uniform areas of the sky 3 and grass 4 may be similarly constitutedrespectively from two types only of blue and green pieces. Only thosepieces having particular features are more restricted in where they canbe placed. While some are unique e.g. the pig's tail, others may havelimited freedom e.g. the straight boundary between the sky and grass.

As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, each piece additionally comprisesmarker spots 18. These are spots of a thin metal layer which are printedonto the backing board 20 of the puzzle before it is covered with theprinted picture sheet 15. AS seen in FIG. 3, once the picture sheet 15is stuck over the marker spots 18, they cannot be seen. For that reasonthey are shown only dotted in FIG. 2.

The marker spots on each piece are deposited at any combination of 10locations, 5 of such locations extending along each lobed side of thepiece. This gives a very large number of possible patterns of spots.

In an intended use of the puzzle, a large number of people acquiringthese puzzles are told additionally that they can enter for a prize, bycompleting the puzzle and returning it to the manufacturer. The puzzleswill all in general be completed to produce the same overall porco-ruraleffect but the arrangements of metallic spots 18 will all be different.Since the people completing the puzzle cannot see the spots, they willtake no account of them. Even if the spots are visible, e.g. are put onthe backs of the pieces, it makes no difference.

To judge the entries, a unique standard completion or solution of thepuzzle is made, establishing a standard distribution of spots.Alternatively, this could be regarded as a standard distribution ofpieces, e.g. if each piece is uniquely identified by its spots.

The submitted completed puzzles are then subjected to scanning e.g. byshort wave length electromagnetic radiation, to determine their layoutof spots/pieces and compare it with the standard layout. Because of theenormous number of possible layouts, only a minute proportion of entrieswill correspond to the standard and be adjudged "winner". Or, the entryor entries most closely approximating the standard solution layout willwin if none is identical.

FIG. 4 illustrates how a radiation scanning and comparison may becarried out. Each completed puzzle 101 is placed on a detector baselayer 30 having a radiation-sensitive region 31 at a part where theinterchangeable jigsaw pieces may lie. Locators 32 align each completedpuzzle in the same way. A solution template 40, which isradiation-opaque except for an array of small windows 41 at positionscorresponding to the array of metallic spots 118 in the correctly-solvedpuzzle, is aligned over the puzzle. A radiation source 50 above thetemplate is activated to direct radiation onto it. Here, the radiationsource is a bar which can be scanned across in the direction of arrow A.Insofar as the test puzzle 101 matches the correct solution, noradiation will reach the sensitive layer 31 because a metallic spot 118of the test puzzle 101 will block radiation passing through thecorresponding window hole 41. The figure shows a puzzle solution whichis correct at the section, with all the windows covered in this way.Insofar as a piece in the test puzzle does not match the solution,however, radiation from the source 50 will pass through the puzzlesubstrate board (which is permeable to it) and be detected by thesensitive layer 31, the instances of this being detected and totalled bydetection and counting circuitry 32 whose construction and operation areroutine matters for a skilled person in the field of photodetection.

If the scanning is done using penetrative radiation it is not evenrequired that submitted completed puzzles be removed from theirenvelopes or packages. Alignment means can be provided for aligning thepuzzle structure array with any detector involved. Entries which do notmatch the solution can therefore be returned immediately andconveniently to the sender, who can still keep the puzzle for amusement.

Even if a competitor discovers the existence of the metallic spots orother marker, it will avail him/her naught because they will not knowthe unique solution layout.

It will be understood that the use of metallic spots as markers is onlyone of a great many possibilities. For example, each piece could becharacterised by a metallic strip, following some characteristic curveon the surface of the piece. Other possibilities, and other modes ofscanning them conveniently, will occur to the man skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. Puzzle game apparatus comprising a plurality ofpieces, the pieces having display portions and means for interfittingwith adjacent said pieces to form an assembled puzzle structure, saidassembled puzzle structure having a finished visual scheme and saidfinished visual scheme being a coherent combination of the displayportions of the pieces;at least a plurality of the pieces beingchangeable pieces, said changeable pieces being capable of taking morethan one possible position in a said assembled puzzle structure wherebythe apparatus has a plurality of assembled conditions corresponding tosaid different possible positions of the changeable pieces and eachgiving an assembled puzzle structure having a said finished visualscheme, and at least a plurality of the changeable pieces compriserespective distinctive markers in addition to their display portions, toindicate distinctively the position of the respective changeable piecesin the assembled puzzle structure and thereby distinguish the assembledconditions from one another in terms of the positions of the markerstherein.
 2. Puzzle game apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which themarkers are invisible in the finished visual scheme.
 3. Puzzle gameapparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the display portions arefragments of a complete picture.
 4. Puzzle game apparatus as claimed inclaim 1 in which the display portions are fragments of a completepattern.
 5. Puzzle game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which themarkers are radiation-scannable, and comprise regions of varied opacityof the respective piece to a predetermined type of radiation.
 6. Puzzlegame apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the pieces have boardsubstrates and the markers comprise metallic patches thereon.
 7. Puzzlegame apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the markers areradiation-scannable, and comprise regions of varied reflectivity of therespective piece to a predetermined type of scanning radiation. 8.Puzzle game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the pieces areflat, the assembled puzzle structure is an essentially two-dimensionalarray and the finished visual scheme is a picture.
 9. Puzzle gameapparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which the picture has a region ofuniform tonal appearance, and the display portions of a plurality ofsaid changeable pieces combine in said region.
 10. Puzzle game apparatusas claimed in claim 1 in which there are at least ten changeable pieces.11. Puzzle game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the changeablepieces are changeable in position by exchanging the location of onechangeable piece for that of another within the assembled puzzlestructure.
 12. Puzzle game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which thechangeable pieces are changeable in position by changing the orientationof a given changeable piece at a given location within the assembledpuzzle structure.
 13. A method of operating a puzzle game competitionsystem, comprisingproviding a plurality of puzzle game apparatus asdefined in claim 1; arranging for the assembly of each puzzle gameapparatus to form a plurality of assembled puzzle structures each asdefined; predetermining a target assembled condition for such anassembled puzzle structure; comparing the respective assembledconditions of the plurality of assembled puzzle game structures with thetarget assembled condition, by comparison of the positions of themarkers therein, and selecting a said assembled puzzle structure whoseassembled condition most closely resembles the target assembledcondition.
 14. A method of operating a puzzle game competition system,comprisingproviding a plurality of puzzle game apparatus as defined inclaim 5; arranging for the assembly of each puzzle game apparatus toform a plurality of assembled puzzle structures each as defined;predetermining a target assembled condition for such an assembled puzzlestructure; radiation-scanning the plurality of assembled puzzlestructures to determine the arrangement of markers therein, andcomparing the determined marker arrangement of each with that of thetarget assembled condition, and selecting a said assembled puzzlestructure whose assembled condition most closely resembles the targetassembled condition.
 15. A method according to claim 14 in which thearrangement of markers in each assembled puzzle structure is comparedwith that of the target assembled condition by radiation-scanning atemplate, said template having an arrangement of markers correspondingto that of the target assembled condition, at the same time asradiation-scanning the assembled puzzle structure.